Riders Republic and Skull & Bones in-game events will highlight climate issues

Ubisoft will use its games to tackle the issues of wildfires and resource exploitation

Ubisoft has announced plans to highlight climate issues through in-game events in Riders Republic and the upcoming Skull & Bones.

Taking place in late 2022 or early next year, the Riders Republic event will tackle the issue of wildfires.

As first reported by Axios, the “short and intense” live event will require players to team up to stop sequoia trees from burning down.

Players won’t be given advance warning of the event. “Instead, they will be immersed immediately in the consequences of wildfires on the outskirts of the map when booting the game,” Ubisoft said.

The sky will be orange, there will be smoke and fog throughout the game, and certain parts of the map will be inaccessible.

Players will have to identify the most fragile and flammable areas of Sequoia National Park and engage in collaborative activities to protect it.

Skull & Bones, which is reportedly due for release in November, will include an in-game event designed to promote the issue of overfishing.

“Our first activation will address resource exploitation, showing what happens in the game world and the real world when the demand for sharks’ fins results in the overfishing of sharks,” Ubisoft said.

“Players will have the choice to contribute to marine wildlife protection and comprehend the destructive nature of the shark fin trade.”

It added: “As players contribute to community challenges, rewards will be unlocked for all players depending on the overall level of participation.”

Details of the events were revealed by the UN’s Playing for the Planet Alliance, a consortium of video game companies formally committed to acting on climate change.

Established in 2019, it has over 40 members including Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sega, Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Sports Interactive, Creative Assembly, Sumo Group and Niantic.

“In joining the Alliance, members have made commitments ranging from integrating green activations in games, to recuing their emissions and supporting the global environmental agenda,” according to its website.